Liquid-feeding device



Oct. 18,1927.

V. A. SEARLES LIQUID FEEDING DEVICE Filed Oct. 19. 1923 2. Sheets-Sheet 1 V V IIIIIIIA FZiw/zf 7 M :Q Z 5.

Patented Get. 18, 1927.

U ET E VOLNEY A. SEABLES,

OF JACKSON,

ATES PATENT F F l C E MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR TO STEWART-'WARNER GINIA.

Application filed October 19, 1923.

This invention relates to certain improvements in liquid ,lccdin g; devices for use particularlv in supplying liquid fuel to internal combustion engines o'l' automobiles and the lilac in connection with which it is very often desirable to have the primary fuel tank carried on thc vehicle at. a level below the carburetor.

Such tank structures usually embody an upper chamber and a lower chamber. with valved means ol communication between them for cliecting direct discharges from the upper to the lower chamber when atn'iosphcric pressure is produced in the upper chamber.

The primary object oi this invention is to provide a new and novel means of affording communicat on between the upper and the ower chamb iu' tor cllcclinu the desired discharge of liquid fuel from said upper chamber to the lower chamber.

Other obiccts and advantages relate to the details ot confirm-tion and operation of the device. as will more fully appear from the toll-owing description taken in connection with the accoimrinyinc; drawings. in which:

Figure l is awcrtical sectional view of an cmlmdiment of my invention.

Figure E2 is a se tion (somewhat enlarged) ot the valve casing controlling the siphon device.

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view of a slightly dill'crcnt embodiment of my inven tion.

As illustrated in Figure l, the tank -l- -2- and a comprises an upper chambcr lower chcmlmr --flthe upper chamber adapted to be alternately under vacuum and at atmospheric pre sure. while the lower chamber is maintained at all times at atmosphcric pressure lor atlordiogr i'rcc gravity discharge of fuel to the carlmrctor.

The upper chamber 2-- is provided with a liquid inlet connection *4 which may be in connnuuicatimi with any suitable source of supply, as the ordinary tank carried by an automobile. A suction connection as is provided which may be in communication with the manifold of the engine.

An air vent or atmospheric inlet t3 is provided. controlled by an upwardly opening; valve --i actuated in a manner heroinat'tcr described.

The suction connection 5 is controlled by a downwardly opening valve -8- LIQUID-FEEDING DEVICE.

Serial No. 669,477.

mounted upon a float stem 9- and adapted to move in connection with the stem to open and closed position in accordance with the level of liquid in the chamber 2.

These elves and their connections and operating mcchanism are of the same construction as illustrated in Letters Patent No. 1,255.3l7 issued to \Yilliam Sparks under date of February o, 1918.

As shown, the valve -T- is mounted upon a lever lU having its inner end pivoted on lugs -ll formed in connection with plate -l2-- secured to the ca} --l3 ot' the tank structure. This lever 10- is adapt.- cd to be snapped to opposite sides of its pivot by means of a pair of springs -l4-- having their inner ends connected to the float. the outer end of one of the springs being connected to the lever 1(l while the outer end of the other spring is connected to projection l5- extending downwardly trom plate -l2. The operation of this structure is well known. The lower end of the [loot stem may be provided with a guide mounted upon partition vall l6- which separates the tank 1 into the chambers 2 and -3 Pipe --l7* constitutes a means tor mai taming at all times atmospheric pressure in the chamber 3, and may as shown. communicate with the nipple l8- surrounding the air vent or atmospheric inlet.

The means of communication between chambers 2" and -3- is effected by a siphonic arrangement. which consists of the siphon tube l9- having its lower end pro octmg through partition l(S and cvtendmg downwardly some distance into the chamber -3-. while its other leg penetrates a valve casing 2land is provided with lateral openings 22- in communication with the interior of the casing. This valve asing 21* is provided with an interior valve seat -23 upon which the valve --2-il is adapted to be seated so as to be held closed and by suction or vacuum produced in chamber 2 The valve Q4 is of diskshape form and is loosely carried by a float -2 l mounted in the valve casing and movable therein into contact with the lower end of the leg 20- of the siphon tube 19-. The relative formation of these parts is of such a character thatthe float -E2l when buoyed by liquid in the casing 2lhas sullicient elevating'force to ill) raise the valve ---Q3- from its seat. In other words, the buoyancy ot the float is slightly greater than the weight of the disk valve.

The operation will be readily understood. lVhen vacuum is produced in chamber 2 the valve 24 is drawn to its seat and is maintained in that position so long as the minus pressure exists in chamber 2-. As soon, however, as the float is raised to that position where it closes the suction connection --5 and opens the air vent *G*, then the disk valve 23- is opened by weight of the liquid and the buoyancy ot float -24 maintains this valve 24* in its open position. while the liquid siphons through the tube -l9 into the lower cham ber 3--.

In Figure 3 a slightly ditl'erent arrangement is shown in that the siphon tube i 9 en'ibodies a substantially vertically ext en ding cylindrical portion --25*positioned within chamber 2- formed at its bottom with a valve seat -26 for engagement with the valve 27 carried by float QS positioned within the cylindrical part 25-, the valve being limited in its upward movement by means of one or more projections 29 extending within the cylinder -2T. In this case in like manner, the buoyancy of float 28- is slightly greater than the weight of the valve -27 In this construction, the siphon tube e7;- tends outside the tank structure and comi'nunicates at its lower end with a nipple 29 exterior of the tank structure. but in communication therewith through conduit -30- so that the liquid fuel in this case siphons from the upper chamber -l-- through the nipple into the lower chamber 3- from whence it may be discharged by gravity through a nipple 3l to a carburetor, or other device.

For the purpose oi priming the device when drained. or when the siphon iced stops, a pipe -32-- is provided which is connect-ed to any suitable source of vacuum. as the vacuum line which is connected to the upper chamber. or the pipe ?2- may conmiunicate directly with the manifold of the engine. The communication of the pipe w ffl ith the interior oi the nipple -29 is controlled by means of a valve il-3 which can be opened or closed at will.

The operation of this structure will be readily understood. in that when atmospheric pressure is produced in the upper chamber. the valve 27 opens and the liquid s into the lower chamber 3. \Vhen suction is produced in the upper chamber. the valve 27 closes and remains in closed position while sufficient liquid is elevated in the chamber so as to raise the float to a position where it closes the suction valve 8.

Although. I have shown and described a specific construction illustrative of embodinicnts oi" my invention. I do not desi e to limit myself to the details of construction of the same, as various changes and moditications may be made without departing from the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

I elaim:

1. In a device of the class des-ribed, an upper chamber having a liquid inlet. an air exhaust connection and an air inlet, means for alternating atmospheric pressure and vacuum in said upper chamber; a siphon tube leading from the upper chamber to the lower chamber and a valve controlling the opening of the siphon tube in the upper chamber. adapted to be held seated by the vacuum in said chamber.

2. In the combination defined in claim 1, said siphon tube opening downwardly in the upper chamber. the valve therefor being arranged to seat downwardly to close said opening. and a float attached to said valve for unseating it when the vacuum in the upper chamber is relieved.

3. In a device of the class described. a tank structure comprising an upper chamber and a lower chamber, an atniospheric connection. an air exhaust connection and a liquid inlet to said upper chamber. mean; for maintaining atmospheric pressure in the lower chamber, means for alternating vacuum and atmospheric pressure in the upper chamber. a siphon tube having one leg; in con'imunication with the upper chamher and its opposite leg in communication with the lower chamber. a valve within the siphon tube. and a float connected to the valve and ot sutlicient buoyancy to move the valve from its seat under atmospheric pressure conditions in the upper chamber.

4. In a device of the class described. a tank structure comprising an upper ehamher and a lower chamber. means for alternating vacuum and atmospheric pressure in the upper chamber. a siphon tube having one leg; in communication with the upper chamber and its opp site leg in communication w th the lower chai'nbcr. a valve arranged within the siphon tube and having a limited movcrncnt therein. and a float connected to the valve of suilicicut buoyancy to move the valve from its seat under atmospheric conditions in the upper chamber.

5. In the combination defined in claim the end of the siphon tube in the upper chamber having an enlargement providing a valve chamber and the said float being acconnnodated and confined in said valve memher.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set mv hand at Jackson. Michigan, this 2nd day of October, 1923.

VOLNEY A. SEARLES. 

